(Hemingford)-A former Hemingford police chief charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl while he was chief had his bond reduction request denied during his initial court appearance Thursday. KNEB in Scottsbluff is reporting 52-year-old Mark Lindburg continues to be held on $100,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing this coming Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Lindburg is accused of first-degree sexual assault and child abuse between January and September 2010. Lindburg served as Hemingford's police chief from November 2006 until he resigned without explanation in November 2011.

Lindburg also worked as a Box Butte County Deputy Sheriff for seven years and helped start a youth center in Hemingford in 2008.